Publication:
Monolithic shape-programmable dielectric liquid crystal elastomer actuators

Thumbnail Image

School / College / Institute

Organizational Unit
SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
Upper Org Unit

Program

KU-Authors

KU Authors

Co-Authors

Davidson, Zoey S.
Shahsavan, Hamed
Aghakhani, Amirreza
Guo, Yubing
Hines, Lindsey
Xia, Yu
Yang, Shu

Publication Date

Language

Embargo Status

NO

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Alternative Title

Abstract

Soft robotics may enable many new technologies in which humans and robots physically interact, yet the necessary high-performance soft actuators still do not exist. The optimal soft actuators need to be fast and forceful and have programmable shape changes. Furthermore, they should be energy efficient for untethered applications and easy to fabricate. Here, we combine desirable characteristics from two distinct active material systems: fast and highly efficient actuation from dielectric elastomers and directed shape programmability from liquid crystal elastomers. Via a top-down photoalignment method, we program molecular alignment and localized giant elastic anisotropy into the liquid crystal elastomers. The linearly actuated liquid crystal elastomer monoliths achieve strain rates over 120% per second with an energy conversion efficiency of 20% while moving loads over 700 times the elastomer weight. The electric actuation mechanism offers unprecedented opportunities toward miniaturization with shape programmability, efficiency, and more degrees of freedom for applications in soft robotics and beyond.

Source

Publisher

American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

Subject

Multidisciplinary sciences

Citation

Has Part

Source

Science Advances

Book Series Title

Edition

DOI

10.1126/sciadv.aay0855

item.page.datauri

Link

Rights

Copyrights Note

Endorsement

Review

Supplemented By

Referenced By

0

Views

4

Downloads

View PlumX Details